by our College Data Analytics Team
Looking for the best colleges for the money in Montana? This list ranks 12 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. This is our No Aid ranking, which weighs each school’s published sticker price (tuition, fees, and room and board) before financial aid — scroll to Customize Your Rankings to switch views.
To help you make your decision, College Factual analyzed 12 schools to produce this 2026 best-value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
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Our analysis looked at 12 schools in Montana to surface the strongest return on investment. Our ranking is based on objective factors.
The first step is the school’s combined average tuition, fees, and room and board — what a student pays before aid, which is why this is our No Aid ranking. Cost alone isn’t enough — overall quality matters too. We then balance cost against student outcomes — completion, resources, and earnings after graduation.
The schools that score best offer the strongest return on your investment. Read more about our methodology.
Not every student is looking for the same thing. Refine the list by location and field of study, or explore related rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Leading the list is Miles Community College, our #1 best value in Montana. Located in Miles City, MT, Miles Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,500, while out-of-state students pay about $11,220. Typical student debt is $20,574. Median earnings reach $42,862 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $20,574 median debt.
Fort Peck Community College came in at #2 on this year's best-value ranking in Montana. This public school is set in Poplar, MT. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,250. Graduates go on to earn a median of $14,747 ten years after entry.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Flathead Valley Community College earned it the #3 place in Montana. Located in Kalispell, MT, Flathead Valley Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,912, while out-of-state students pay about $11,659. Flathead Valley Community College students take on a median of $16,094 in debt. Median earnings reach $38,520 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Out of the 12 schools in Montana in this year's value ranking, Stone Child College landed the #4 spot. This public school is set in Box Elder, MT. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,610. Median earnings reach $24,555 ten years out.
Salish Kootenai College came in at #5 on this year's best-value ranking in Montana. Based in Pablo, MT, Salish Kootenai College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,311 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,583. Median earnings reach $32,725 ten years out.
Blackfeet Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Blackfeet Community College is a private not-for-profit school based in Browning, MT. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,610. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $22,953.
Dawson Community College placed #7 among the best values in Montana. Dawson Community College is a public school based in Glendive, MT. In-state tuition and fees average $5,010, with out-of-state students paying around $9,810. Dawson Community College students take on a median of $11,000 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,951 ten years after entry. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Little Big Horn College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Set in Crow Agency, MT, Little Big Horn College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,200 in tuition and fees. Median earnings reach $21,152 ten years out.
Great Falls College Montana State University landed the #9 spot for value in Montana this year. Based in Great Falls, MT, Great Falls College Montana State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,028, compared with $12,911 for out-of-state students. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $38,034.
Highlands College Of Montana Tech ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Set in Butte, MT, Highlands College Of Montana Tech is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,127, while out-of-state students pay about $10,948. Typical student debt is $2,750. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $54,329. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chief Dull Knife College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Set in Lame Deer, MT, Chief Dull Knife College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,260 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $20,073 ten years after entry.
Montana State University Northern landed the #12 spot for value in Montana this year. Based in Havre, MT, Montana State University Northern is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,982, compared with $21,875 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $23,855 in student loans. Median earnings reach $49,505 ten years out. Set against $23,855 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Aaniiih Nakoda College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Aaniiih Nakoda College is a public school based in Harlem, MT. Students from in state pay about $3,080 in tuition and fees. Median earnings reach $30,528 ten years out.
Helena College University Of Montana ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Set in Helena, MT, Helena College University Of Montana is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,106, with out-of-state students paying around $11,278. The median program debt is $19,906. Helena College University Of Montana alumni report median earnings of $40,738 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Montana State University Billings landed the #15 spot for value in Montana this year. Montana State University Billings is a public school based in Billings, MT. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,280, compared with $22,897 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $25,465 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,296 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana placed #16 among the best values in Montana. This public school is set in Butte, MT. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,289, with out-of-state students paying around $26,094. Students borrow a median of $23,962 to complete their program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,329. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Montana Western offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Based in Dillon, MT, The University Of Montana Western is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,669, with out-of-state students paying around $20,130. Students borrow a median of $22,484 to complete their program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,229. That is a strong return on a $22,484 median debt. The University Of Montana Western admits about 100% of applicants.
Montana Academy Of Salons offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. This private for-profit school is set in Great Falls, MT. Montana Academy Of Salons students take on a median of $12,752 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $28,841 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Montana came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Located in Missoula, MT, The University Of Montana is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,552, with out-of-state students paying around $33,671. Typical student debt is $24,342. Median earnings reach $44,511 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Montana admits about 96% of applicants.
Creviers Academy Of Cosmetology Arts landed the #20 spot for value in Montana this year. This private for-profit school is set in Kalispell, MT. Students borrow a median of $9,833 to complete their program here. Median earnings reach $14,047 ten years out. Set against $9,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Academy Of Cosmetology Bozeman came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. Academy Of Cosmetology Bozeman is a private for-profit school based in Bozeman, MT. Graduates carry a median of $7,715 in student loans.
Butte Academy Of Beauty Culture offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Based in Butte, MT, Butte Academy Of Beauty Culture is a private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $7,487 to complete their program here.
Rocky Mountain College landed the #23 spot for value in Montana this year. Located in Billings, MT, Rocky Mountain College is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $35,582. Students borrow a median of $25,666 to complete their program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $49,036. That is a strong return on a $25,666 median debt. Rocky Mountain College has an acceptance rate of 70%.
Montana State University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. This public school is set in Bozeman, MT. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,460, with out-of-state students paying around $33,287. Typical student debt is $23,635. Montana State University alumni report median earnings of $53,263 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,635 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Great Falls came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Great Falls, MT. In-state tuition and fees average $30,448. Graduates carry a median of $23,847 in student loans. Median earnings reach $48,296 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Not far behind, these schools also delivered strong value this year:
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 ranked schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 12 schools evaluated. References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
